Also killed were a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu who hailed from Amankwo Okpala community.

The incident has thrown the junction and the entire community into a state of panic as commercial activities had abruptly come to end.

A source who identified himself as Uche and a relative to the couple told punch that the slain cops drove from neighbouring Abo Mbaise police division to eat at the junction.

He said that while the policemen were eating, some gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire on them.

He said that while three police were shot dead at the scene, two others ran to a nearby shot but their attackers raced to the shop and killed them and equally killed a couple who owned the shop they ran into.

The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five rifles.

The source said, “It is a black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise Police Division to eat at the junction.